Time switch



Sept. 7, 1954' Filed Jan. 8, 1954 D. MORRISON TIME SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet l lull.

INVENTOR.

DAVID Monmson BY zmsr w k ATTORNEY P 1954 D. MORRISON 2,688,366

TIME SWITCH Filed Jan. 8, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

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ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1954 o. MORRISON 2,638,366

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INVENTOR DAVID Moamsou k A'r-r RNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1954 TIME SWITCH David Morrison, Two Rivers, Wis., assignor to Paragon Electric Company, Two

Rivers, Wis.,

a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 8, 1954, Serial No. 402,949

4 Claims.

This invention relates to time switches.

In a number of applications it is desirable to have an electric device either turned on or turned 011 at a predetermined time each day with the exception of certain days. On these days it is desirable to have the reverse take place, viz., to have it turned off or to have it turned on at difierent times and, perhaps, on certain days to prevent operation of the switch at all from its normal position.

The above described type of switch control is particularly desirable for air conditioning installations where the air conditioner is for single rooms or for offices where the requirement for a particular day or days is different.

The time switch forming the subject matter of this invention is so made that it turns on the air conditioner at the same time each day but can be easily arranged, with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator, so that it will cut off the air conditioner either at the same or different times for a certain day or days and on another day or days will prevent its being turned on at all. For example, it is frequently desirable in ofiices that the air conditioner be turned on very early in the morning on each. of the work days and to have it out off on all of the days except Saturday and Sunday at the same time. On Saturday it may be desirable to have the air conditioner cut off entirely or cut off about noon and on Sunday to prevent the air conditioner from being turned on at all.

This invention is designed to provide a time switch which fulfills the above requirements and which is of extremely simple construction and which may be cheaply made. It is an improvement over the time switch shown in the patent to Joseph J. Everard, 2,596,330 of May 13, 1952,

for Time Switch, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention but is of much simpler and less expensive construction. It does not fulfill all of the functions of the above noted time switch but, nevertheless, does fulfill the major portion of such functions as has been outlined hereinabove.

vIn greater detail, objects of this invention are to provide a time switch in which two dials are employed, one of which is a twenty-four hour main dial and the other of which is a seven day or auxiliary dial. The construction of the time switch of this invention is such that the shafts of th two dials are concentric. The time switch has at least a portion of the seven day dial formed preferably of transparent material or at least so formed that the twenty four hour dial may be seen by looking directly through the seven day dial.

Further objects are to provide a time switch in which a single switch closing tripper for the main or twenty-four hour dial is provided which of step during setting of the switch, and in which during the initial setting of the dials the seven day dial may be adjusted to any one of the desired days so as to correspond to the proper day of the week without disturbing the main or twenty-four hour dial.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a switch construction which is permanently biased towards ofi or open position but which is normally, temporarily latched or held in closed position after the closing tripper of the twenty-four hour dial has functioned and which may be released by each of the opening trippers on the seven day dial and in which the seven day dial is so arranged that any given opening tripper thereof may entirely prevent the closing of the switch on any given day, for example, Sunday.

A further object of this invention is to provide manual means whereby the switch may be closed or opened independently of the operation of any tripper on either of the dials, if so desired, and yet in which the succeeding automatic operation of the switch will proceed in the regular manner hereinabove set forth.

A specific object of this invention is to provide extreme compactness as Well as a relatively inexpensive construction of time switch having the above enumerated functions.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front view of the switch with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail with the seven day dial removed, showing the parts in switch open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the main body of the switch partly in section with the housing removed.

Figure 4 is a rear view of a portion of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed view looking from the 3 rear of the face plate with parts broken away and in section showing the position of parts of the mechanism when the switch, not shown, is in open position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure showing the position of the parts when in switch-closed position.

Figure '2 is a sectional view showing the seven day and twenty-four hour shafts and the immediately associated parts with most of the driving gearing removed.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of the rear face of the seven day dial.

Figure 9 is a detail of the driving plate for the seven day dial.

Figure 10 is a top View of the seven day shaft.

Figure 11 is a sectional fragmentary view of the upper portion of Figure 7 with parts removed.

Referring to the drawings, it Will be seen that the time switch comprises a face plate I which is removahly carried within any suitable type of housing 2. All of the mechanism is suspended from the face plate so that removal of the face plate or main plate i will carry with it all of the mechanism and allow it to be repaired, inspected, or adjusted as needed.

The mechanism is driven from a synchronous motor 3. Usually these motors are provided with reduction mechanism which drives a small pinion d. The pinion t through suitable reduction mechanism indicated generally by the reference character *5, see Figure 3, drives the main driving gear ll, see Figure 7, through the medium of a one-way clutch indicated generally by the reference character i which drives the twenty-four hour shaft 8. This shaft in reality is a hollow shaft or sleeve and within this hollow shaft or sleeve a seven day shaft 9 is positioned for independent rotaticn. The seven day shaft 9 and the twenty -four hour shaft 8 are permanently operativeiy tied together by means of gearing ll! so there is always maintained the relation of a seven to one ratio between the two shafts.

Both shafts project through the face plate I, see Figure 7, and the upper endof the seven day shaft it carries a removable driving plate ll which though removable is connected to. the shaft 9 by non-slipping means such as the flat faces I2, see Figures 10 and 11, of the sevenday shaft 9 and the flat faced slot iii. The driving disk H is provided with a pin id which may fit into any one of a plurality of holes i5 in the central portion of the seven day dial indicated generally by the reference character it. The seven day dial is clamped to the disk l l by means of a removable thumb nut i? as shown in Figure 7.

The twenty-four hour dial is indicated by the reference character it and is rigidly secured to a collar as, see Figure 7, which may beconsidered a part of the twenty-four hour shaft 8 as the collar is is permanently secured to the shaft 8 by means of a set screw it. The set screw 29 is provided merely for the purposeof initial adjustment or an assembly of the parts.

The twentyefour hour dial i8, is provided with a single on tripper 25 which is adjustably secured to the portion is or sleeve of the twentyfour hour dial 8 by means of a one-way 01 1-11 1 22. The on tripper is provided with a pointer 23, see Figures 1, 2 and '7, which indicates the hour of the day as shown on thescale or insignia 25! on the front of the twenty-four hour dial l8, This tripper carries a tripping pin 25, see Figures 2 n 3, wh ch s. r an d. o en a e an. p.- reed. 1 am ees 5. am w kleve r manua y operable lever 21. The lever 21 is rigid with a rockshaft 28. This rockshaft may be of the general type shown in the patent to Emil F. Swensen, 2,251,429 of August 5, 1941, for Time Switch, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. This rockshaft projects downwardly through the face plate and carries a spider or member 29, see Figures 5 and 6, which is provided with a pair of arms 35] and SI. Each of these arms as and 3! will move the sliding cradle 32 against the action of the spring 33 and Will detach the lip or locking tongue 34 integral with the sliding and rocking cradle 32 from one or the other of the two notches or slots 35 and 36, see Figures 5 and 6. The sliding and rocking cradle 32 is operatively connected to the spider or member 253 by means of the spring arms 31, see Figures 5 and 6, in the same manner as shown in the above patent to Swensen. Also substantialiy as shown in the above patent to Swensen the rocking and sliding cradle 32 rocks a switch operator 3!; independently pivoted on the shaft The purpose of the spring 3'! is to store energy so as to quickly rock the sliding and rocking cradle 32 from one side to the other as desired through the medium of a tongue 39 integral with the sliding and rocking cradle 32. The spider or member 29 is permanently biased towards switch open position by means of. the spring 48, see Figures 5 and 6, which is secured fixedly at one end and at the other end to the arm .51 of the member 29.

At this point it is to be noted that the twentyfour hour dial l8 carries only one tripper which may be set at any one of the hours marked on the twenty-four hour dial.

The seven day dial i6 is divided into seven days and marked for the days of the week as shown at ll and is also. divided by the divisions 42 of the hours for each of the days of the week. These last divisions as shown in Figure 1 carry two two-hour intervals. It is provided with seven arcuate slots 43 and with seven oif trippers 44.. These off trippers, M are each provided with a tripping pin 45 which is threaded through a clamping nut 56 on the one side of the seven day dial It, see Figure 8, and with the manipulating or thumb piece 4'? at its other end which thumb piece is located on the outer side of the corresponding tripper 4d. The nut 48 is preferably carried in a channel on the underside of the seven day dial It as shown in Figure 8 to prevent inadvertent turning of the nut during adjustment of the releasing trippers. Each of these off trippers M has a pointer 48 which may be set, at the desired hour.

As thus far described it will be seen that the twenty-four hour dial has a single on tripper which moves the rock. arm 21 to switch on-" position and the seven day dial has; seven off trippers each provided with an operating pin 45. The operating pin 45 is adapted to. engage a cam 49 on a releasing slide 50. The. releasing slide is suitably guided on the. face plate. I as indicated in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 and is provided withan H inverted L-shaped slot 5|. Assuming that the switch is. mounted in a vertical positionit is to benoted that the slot.5l has a verticalportion 52 corresponding to the notch or slot 33 for the locking finger 34, of the sliding cradle 32. The,

corresponding locking position. of the rocking and sliding cradle 32 is the oif position of;.the.

switchv and is shown i-nnl igurev 5 and; when the. cradle is, in this-position its locking tongue 341.: rests. in the slot or notch. 36. as shown in Figures;

2 and 5. The lower horizontal edge of the slot 5I is indicated by the reference character 54, see

Figure 2, and is normally positioned so that the locking finger 3d of the sliding and rocking cradle can rest in either notch or 3B. In other words, the lower face 54 of the horizontal portion of the slot indicated generally at 5| in the releasing slide or member 55 is normally positioned downwardly of the locking tongue 34 of the cradle 32. The releasing slide or member is spring urged downwardly by means of the spring 55.

It will be seen therefore that in the normal position of the releasing slide 50 as shown in Figure 2 the locking tongue or finger 34 of the rocking and sliding cradle can rest in either slot 35 or 36. If, however, the locking finger 34 of the cradle is in its notch or slot 35 and the release slide is moved upwardly, assuming that the switch is in a vertical position, it is apparent that the locking tongue 34 of the cradle will be moved out of its locking slot 35 and the biasing spring 40, see Figures 5 and 6, will rock the cradle, and consequently the switch operator, to switch open position.

From the description thus far given, it will be seen that any one of the off trippers 44'may be set wherever desired on the seven day dial for the particular hour of the particular day on which it is to operate and will release the switch from its switch closed position if it is in such position and will allow the switch operator to move to switch open position;

The switch operator 38, see Figures 3, 5, and 6, is provided with a screw 56 which has an insulating sleeve 57, see moves the switch arm 58 to switch closed position. The screw 56 and its sleeve 51 constitute a switch operating post and project through an opening 59 in the back plate which may be a composite plate if desired having a metal portion BI and an insulating portion 62, see Figure 3. The metal plate 6|, if used, is preferably cutaway as indicated at 33 in Figure 4, to provide clearance for any screws or rivets which hold the stationary terminal and support 64 for the movable switch arm 58 and for the stationary contact support '5 5.

It is apparent therefore that when the insulating sleeve 5'! of the switch operating post 56, 51, is moved to switch open position that it will occupy the position shown in Figure 4, in full lines and when moved to switch closed position, as shown in dotted lines, it will move the switch to switch closed position. The movable switch arm 58 is resilient and tends to move to switch open position. Obviously, the reverse arrangement of switch contacts could be used if desired though for the primary purpose for which it is intended this time switch will be used in the manner hereinabove described. Also it is apparent that two stationary contacts could be used either one oi which could be engaged by the movable switch arm though this is not the intended purpose of the device.

It is intended that the central portion 66, see Figure 1 of the seven day dial indicated generally at IS in such figure be formed of transparent material so that the twenty-four hour dial I8 may be read by looking directly through the seven day dial. Any other construction of the seven day dial could be used provided it allowed the observer to look directly through such dial and observe the twenty-four hour dial.

It is to be noted that a fixed pointer 61, see Figures 1 and 2, is provided. This pointer over- Figures 3, 4 and 5, which laps the two dials and is designed to indicate both the day and the hour on the seven day dial and the hour on the twenty-four hour dial.

In setting the device, the operator sets the twenty-four hour dial I8 at the correct time with reference to the pointer 51, the one-way clutch I allowing such setting without disturbing the driving mechanism. However, the gearing I0 permanently operatively connects the twentyfour hour shaft 8 with the seven day shaft 9 and thus turns the disk I I of the seven day shaft 9 to the correct position. The operator sets the on tripper 2i which is carried by the twenty-four hour dial I8 to the correct hour at which he desires the switch to close, the one-way clutch 22 allowing this setting without disturbing the setting of the twenty-four hour dial I8. Thereafter, the operator places the seven day dial I6 so that the pointer 61 indicates the correct day. This is easily done by setting the proper hole I5 in the seven day dial over the pin It in the disk I I, see Figures 1, '7 and 9. The operator then tightens the thumb nut I1 and thus locks the seven day dial against removal.

The operator then sets the off trippers 44 at the desired hour for each day selected at which he wishes to switch turned to on position and sets any ofi tripper he desires to the same hour on the particular day selected at which he does not want the on tripper to close the switch. For example, if the on tripper is set for 7 a. m. on the twenty-four hour dial, the off tripper on Sunday would be set for the same hour on the Sunday section of the seven day dial that is it would be set for '7 a. m. This is shown in Figure 1 where the off tripper for the Sunday section of the seven day dial is set for '7 a. m. Also in the particular instance chosen for illustration, the Saturday off tripper would be set for 2 oclock p. m. provided that was the closing time for the ofiice and providing the switch was used for controlling air conditioning apparatus. Other days than Saturday and Sunday, the off trippers would probably be set for 6 oclock p. m.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The synchronous motor drives the twentyfour hour dial through reduction gearing and at the proper time the on tripper rocks the rock lever 21 and consequently the cradle 32 and thus rocks the switch operator 38 to the switch closed or on position. The cradle and consequently the switch operator 38 will temporarily lock in closed position under normal conditions in the notch or slot 35. However, as will be seen from Figure 6, the cradle and consequently the switch operator are biased towards switch open position by the spring 40.

When the proper time arrives one of the off trippers on the seven day dial moves the releasing slide or member 50 upwardly, see Figure l by the engagement of the corresponding pin of the off tripper with the cam face 49 of the slide 50. This lifts the tongue 34 from the notch 35 and allows the biased switch operator to move to switch open position, see Figures 1, 4 and 5. The releasing member or slide 50 is biased downwardly by means of the spring 55, see Figure 6, as previously described. In the particular example chosen for illustration, on Sunday the OE tripper moves the releasing member or slide 50 upwardly just before the time that the on" tripper rocks the rock lever 27 to switch closed position and holds it in such position until the pin 25 of the on tripper has passed the cam 26 or the rock lever 27. In consequence of this, the

switch cannot be moved to closed position as the tongue 34, see Figure 2, freely slides in the elongated section 52 of the notch in the releasing slide 50 and the tongue 34 merely drops back down into the off notch or switch open notch 36. This dwell for the slide 59 is obviously obtained because of the fact, that the seven day dial moves so slowly with reference to the twentyfour hour dial. It will be seen that a very simple type of time switch has been provided which is cheap to make, which is reliable in operation and which allows for individual setting for the release or oil motion of the switch. Also it will be seen that although the switch is turned on at the same time each day for the selected days that it may be prevented from closing at any given'day or days and may be set to cut off at any desired time at any of the remaining days.

In order to simplify claiming the invention, the twenty-four hour dial will be referred to as the main dial and the seven day dial as the auxiliary dial, although neither dial can be said as constituting a more essential part of the mechanism than the other dial.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than, limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

l. A time switch comprising a main and an auxiliary dial positively and permanently operatively connected by a seven to one reduction gearing, timing mechanism for rotating said main dial once every twenty-four hours to thereby rotate said auxiliary dial once every seven days, switch means, an on tripper carried by said main dial, switch operating means including cam means operated by said on tripper for moving said switch towards switch closed position, a plurality of off trippers carried by said auxiliary dial, and intermediate means operated by said oii trippers for causing said switch means to move to open position, and for preventing operation of said switch means upon simul aneous operative action of both said on and oh" trippers, said switch operating means and said intermediate means being independently movable.

2. A time switch comprising a main and an auxiliary dial positively and permanently operatively connected by a seven to one reduction gearing, timing mechanism for rotating said main dial once every twenty-four hours to thereby rotate said auxiliary dial once every seven days, a single on tripper carried by said twentyfour hour dial and arranged to cause said switch to move to switch closed position,,a plurality of ofi trippers carried by said auxiliary dial and arranged to cause said switch to move to ofi position, and means operating from, said off trippers for selectively preventing motion of said switch by saidon tripper when said switch is in openposition and when said ofi trip-per is in op-- 8 erative engagement with said last mentioned means.

3. A time switch comprising a main and an auxiliary dial positively and permanently operatively connected by a seven to one reduction gearing, timing mechanism for rotating said maindial once every twenty-four hours to thereby rotate said auxiliary dia-l once every seven days, switch means, an on tripper carried by said main dial, switch. operating means including cam means operated by said on tripper for moving said switch towards switch closed position, biasing means for biasing said. switch towards switch open position, latch means for holding said switch temporarily in switch closed position, releasing and blocking means having an initial and an operative position for releasing said switch means when in switch closedposition and for preventing motion of said switch means from open to closed position when said releasing and blocking means is moved from its initial position to its operative position, and a plurality of off trippers carried by said auxiliary dial for operating said releasing and blocking means.

i. A time switch comprising a main and an auxiliary dial positively and permanently operatively connected by a seven to one reduction gearing, timing mechanism for rotating said main dial once every twenty-four hours to thereby rotate said auxiliary dial once every seven days, switch means, an. on trip-per carried by said main dial, switch operating means including cam means operated by said on tripper for biasing said, switch towards switch closed position when said on tripper operates said switch operating means, biasing means for biasing said switch towards switch open position, latch means for holding said switch temporarily in switch closed position, releasing and blocking means having an initial and an operative position, and a plurality of off'trippers carried by said auxiliary dial for operating said releasing and blocking means, said latchmeans including a tongue carried by said switch operating means. and a stationary member having a notch to receive said tongue when said switch means is closed, said releasing and blocking means having a portion for moving said tongue from said notchwhen said switch means is closed and'having a slot to allow said tongue to ride freely therein, when said releasing and blocking means is in operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,791,927 Geiger Feb. 10, 1931 1,902,570 Mettler Mar. 21, 1933 1,966,959 Fisher July 17, 1934 2,034,178 Flegel' Mar. 17, 1936 2,231,603 Sprenger Feb. 11, 1941 2,251,429 Swensen Aug. 5, 1941 2,596,330 Everard May 13, 1952' 

